Bernard Bolzano's life and work

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BERNARD BOLZANO (1781-1848) is a pivotal figure in the history of ideas, particularly in philosophy and logic, where his pioneering work laid the groundwork for 20th-century research in logic and methodology. As a professor of (Roman Catholic) religion at the University of Prague, he also excelled in mathematics, with several of his results becoming standard in textbooks. His interests extended to natural sciences, especially physics. However, the breadth of Bolzano's contributions and the circumstances surrounding his life, including a publication ban, have hindered a comprehensive recognition of his achievements. The Bernard-Bolzano-Gesamtausgabe, a critical edition of his collected works and correspondence, is gradually revealing the full significance of his scientific contributions. To date, 75 volumes have been published, with about 50 more forthcoming, and a complete assessment will only be possible once the edition is finished. Meanwhile, this book aims to provide an interim report, offering a comprehensive evaluation of Bolzano's work from the latest research perspectives, and presenting it in English for the first time in a century.